The number of people out of work and claiming Jobseekers Allowance in Hinckley and Bosworth continues to fall, latest figures show.

In October, there were just 516 people unemployed, a reduction of 116, or 18%, from this time last year, according to figures released by the Office for National Statistics.

Youth unemployment of people aged between 18 and 24 has plummeted by 31% from 2014 and now stands at 100 people, with only 35 classed as long-term unemployed.

The employment rate for the borough is 73.1%, which is slightly lower than the national average of 73.7%.

Tim George, a Jobcentre manager, said the number of apprenticeships and traineeships in the borough have doubled since 2014.

He said: “Our focus of earn while you learn has really paid off and local residents are building up a strong skills set and boosting their CVs.

“We will continue to encourage people to get as much work experience as they can to improve their job prospects.

“Hinckley is undergoing major improvements and with The Crescent opening it’s a promising time for job seekers.”

The figures are warmly welcomed by the East Midlands Chamber, a group representing businesses in the region.

Scott Knowles, chief executive, said: “The figures released today are positive and, while taking into account the usual spike in seasonal employment we normally see at this time of year, once again show that the region continues to lead when it comes to creating jobs.

“It’s important that the jobs being created by East Midlands businesses are sustainable, which means they must be created alongside improvements in productivity.

“To keep the momentum going, we need to continue to invest in the skills and experience of our workforce and focus on attracting and retaining the best talent.”

In Leicestershire, the claimant count dropped by 20% from 4,30 in October 2014 to 3,525 in October 2015. Nationally, unemployment has fallen by more than 100,000 to its lowest level since 2008.